■I,:. «
Y O L
extensive tracts of barren country by plantations, are evidently great, whether considered in the light of
affording immediate shelter to the lands, or in that of improving the local climate. T h e fact that tho
climate may be thus improved, has, in very many instances, been sufficiently established. It is, indeed,
astonishing how much better cattle thrive in lielâs even but m oderately sheltered than they do in an o])i-u
exposed country. In the breeding of c.attie, a sheltered farm, or a sheltered corner in a farm, is a thing
much prized ; and, in instances where holds are taken by the season for the purpose of fattening c;ittlc,
th e fields most sheltered never fail to bring th e highest rents, provided the soil be equal to th a t of the
neighbouring fields whieh are not sheltered by trees. If we enquire into the cause, we shall find th at it
does not aitogetiier depend on an early rise of grass on account of the shelter afforded to tlie lands by
the plantations ; but likewise, th at cattle which have it in their power, during cold seasons, to indulge
in the kmdly shelter afforded them by trees, feed better, because th eir bodies are not pierced by the
keen winds of spring and autumn, and because the tender grass is not destroyed by the frosty blasts of
March and April.” (Plant. Kal., p. 121.) In gardenmg, shelter is not less important than m general
economy.
.5729. Climate. An Italian author (G. Gautieri) has enumerated and illustrated the advantages, in
point of climate, which entire tracts of country derive from extensive woods and forests. “ These aro,”
he says, “ arresting the progress of impetuous and dangerous winds ; maintaining the temperature of
the air ; regulating the seasons ; lessening intense cold ; opposing the formation and increase of ice ;
moderating intense heats ; producing abundance of rain and snow ; giving origin to springs, and producing
abimdancc of water in the rivers ; discharging th e electricity of the atmosphere ; dispersing hail,
snow, and watery clouds ; preserving from inundations ; lessening the width and depth of torrents ;
opposing a barrier to the iindermining of banks, and the formation of precipices ; preserving the soil on
mountains, by which th e ir external figure is maintained ; and, finally, retaining within bounds, or
preventing the formation of avalanches, or accumulations of snow.” He illustrates each of these propositions
by references to what has taken place in Italy and Germany, in consequence of alterations that
have been made in the woody surfaces of these countries. (Dello Infiusso de' Boschi, &c. Milano, 1817.)
Williams, an English author, has endeavoured to show that the climate of Britain is deteriorating by
the increase of plantations. These, whether in masses or even in hedgerows, increase the evaporating
surface, and consequently render the atmosphere more humid : an open country, he says, would be
more dry, airy, and wholesome. This is, no doubt, correct ; and, perhaps, some valleys and plains are
more thickly studded with hedgerows and strips, than a strict regard to the culture of corn, or to the
salubrity of the atmosphere, would justily : b u t th e same objection will not apply to elevated situations
and bleak hilly tracts, which every one allows are greatly improved by planting, both in climate, agricultural
produce, and general effect.
5730. I Improving
n .............................
Pontey,
“ that it m;
bad soils. “ It certainlyis not one of the least recommendations of
planting,” ol
may be made to contribute essentially to the improvement of a bad d c,..,,soil, ot.-as is- tbe ot...c
sterile heaths and commons, where three means, the consequences o fth e planting, act together in nn /OT -..roU ?OTOT.«OTro..rortro ro—A C__.¡ro .I.T.I 1 . . V.
motmg such Improvement. The first is, the shade of the trees, which, by decomposing the vegetable
matter on the surface soil, renders it a t once more fertile, and more easily penetrable by the roots. The
second is, that by th e decomposition of the annual fall of leaves, an addition is made to the vegetable'
soil, and th a t of the very best description. The third circumstance is, th a t as the roots collect a great
deal of th e ir support from a depth much lower than field vegetables u.sually reach, they convert the
useless into useful. In short, instances are not wanting, where land previously producing little besides
heath, has, after he<iring a crop of trees, more especially firs, proved witliout furthe r means very
tolerable pasture.” (Profitable Planter, p. 231.) In the Agricultural Report fo r Perthshire (p. 243.), a
heathy trac t is referred to, between Cupar and Perth, containing 2000 acres, which, after being twenty
years under a crop of Scotch firs, was profitably subjected to aration.
•5731. The shade oi ixco-s is highly grateful to man, whether reposing under a single tree, or walking
under the shade of a row, or in an avenue, a grove, or a woodland path. “ Shelter,” Sang observes, “is not
more useful in cold seasons, than the shade of trees is gratifying to cattle in hot ones. In an exposed
open field, under a burning sun, the torture which cattle often endure is truly distressing.” (Plant.
Kal., p. 122.) In garden culture, shade is of great value ; but walls are occasionally preferred to trees
for this purpose ; and n ex t to walls, hedges or trees cut in the hedge manner.
5732. The separation produced by ligneous vegetables, in the form of hedges, is of long use in gardenmg,
and of great and acknowledged importance in agriculture. In the latter a rt it may be considered as
a criterion of improved culture ; for when land lies intermixed, and is cultivated in what is called the
common field manner, th e want of sufficient individual interest precludes all extraordinary exertion, and
the comitry so cultivated has th e same appearance now th at it had many centuries ago. Even on entire
properties lying open, th e want of the power of separating and classingcattlc, and regulating their mode
oi grazing, and protecting particular fields for particular purposes, &c., is found so great a disadvantage
as to be quite incompatible with the practice of improved farming.
.5733. The seclusion afforded by trees, either as hedges, rows, strips, o r groups, to dwellings of limited
surroundmg territory, may be desired from taste, or rendered necessary by personal infirmity, politiciil
local, or pecuniary circumstances. Trees, by their elevation and foliage, shut out external objects, and
obstruct the gaze of the over-curious ; while they leave the occupant in the centre of a little world of his
own. in which he may enjoy himself in his own way.
57.34. The distinction any sort of trees afford to a dwelling in a naked solitary country, o r exotic species
in one already wooded, is often desirable, as conveying cheerful and social ideas to the passing stranger,
and procuring for the owner that applause for improvement which he feels to be his due. In extensive
demesnes, the outlines or prominent parts of them may be indicated by particular sorts of trees ; so as,
irom the house, or from a prospect tower, in a central part of the estate, to render the contour of the
whole distinguishable. Where common, or any one kind of trees abound, uncommon or exotic kinds
may be made use o f; or a common tree, pruned in a particular way, will have an adequate effect.
.5735. To appropriate, harmonise, or render apparently a part of a near estate, distant woody territory
which does not belong to it, may be considered as a selfish principle under the disguise of a social one •
but It is, at all events, harmless in a moral point of view, and is valuable as a device in improving the
beauty of real landscape. Whatever m aybe the kinds of trees, or the forms in which th ey a re
planted in the distant or adjoining property, which we may wish to appropriate (Jig. 923. a a) ; the
1.1
principle is, to plant the same sorts of trees in corresponding forms (b b), in the property which we can
call our own.
573G. The concealment o f disagreeable objects by trees is too obvious, useful, ancl universal an improvement
to require being enlarged on. This is one of the most important uses to which they are applied in
small demesnes in a populous country, or near large towns. The desire of shutting out the houses of
others, and especially of our poorer neighbours, does not so much arise from dislike either to the objects
or the inhabitants, as from a love of verdant scenery, and from a wish to havea country seat as much like
the country as possible. The desire of shutting out manufactories, steam-engines, coal works, workhouses,
&c., is still greater, because these objects excite ideas byno means in harmony with rural q u ie t;
but no one ever thinks of shutting out a distant farm-house, solitary cottage, church,>ater-mill, bridge,
monument, or ruin ; for these are ail interesting and agreeable objects, which are either characteristic of
the country, or very generally occur there.
.57.37. Trees heighten the effect o f agreeable objects hy as,%oc\a.t\ng or grouping with them ; and thereby
forming a more perfect whole. Every whole consists of a number of parts, and themore varied the parts,
provided they are allied among themselves, and not confused or redundant, the greater must be the effect
of the whole. Trees contribute to the beauty of objects already beautiful, by lending to them new forms,
new colours, and also varied light and shade; by their own motion; by inviting b ird s ; and even by their
smell. All these qualities are interesting to the moral and picturesque observer, and of great importance
to the improver, whether he displays water, erects buildings, or harmonises rocks and mountains. A
country house without trees is felt by every one to be but a part of a whole.
5738. Trees may direct the eye to objects that would otherwise escape notice, or whose beauties would
be lost in a general view. By employing them in the foreground of a scene to shut out uninteresting distance
or mere sky, the eye may be le d to repose on some agreeable near, or interesting distant object,
which it had before wandered over unnoticed. By this sort of indication, accompanied by a seat, the
dome of St. P au l’s at London, of St. P e te r’s at Rome, and the cupola of the Iwan W ilika of Moscow, are
seen from the grounds of residences at 20 or 30 miles distant from those capitals ; and in this way that
poet of the feelings, Shenstone, pointed out th e W rekin, and church-spire of Halesowen, from the rustic
path o fth e Leasowes.
6739. Tree.s render indifferent objects interesting when judiciously grouped with them, so as to seem to
conceal, by accident, that wliich we should desire or imagine to be there. Thus, a fragment of a wall, or
of a tower, emerging from a thicket, may, by imagination, be considered as an index to th e main body of
the ruined mansion or castle concealed by the wood. A broken Gothic arch emergingfrora athickwood
may seem the commencement of a cloister or the aisles of a ruined abbey. A large stone lying on a naked
surface is an object of little interest in a picturesque point of view, but surrounded by a few trees and
bushes, it may be taken for part of a stratum of rock. A few yards of brick wall, standing naked and bare
ill a fieid, would be considered as a deformity ; partially cover'it with ivy, which may firsEascend and then
mantle o ., _
In scenery, where'great deformities or featureless extent is mixed with beauty
ceal the latter, and dis| ' " " - . -
ntle over its top, and add a holly or thorn, a briar, and an oak or ash, and a beautiful group IS is .
produced.
•eatdefo - ................................................................... ..........................
former to advantage. Ranges of naked mountains often present this kind
display t ..................................... ro.
......................._ grandeur, trees will coiithc
of m ixture of feature, dulness and want of grouping, which no improvement but planting could ameliorate
and render tolerable. Gilpin, in his Tours to tke Lakes and Highlands, &c., has some excellent observations
on this subject; and there are various instances in the Pentland and Grampian ranges of hills where
improvements of this sort have been executed with the happiest effect.
5740. Beauty m ay even be created by trees mdcpeT\dcnt\y oi aW other objects. A dull flat surface will
be rendered more interesting by scattering a few trees over it, of any sort, and in almost any man n e r; but
it may be grouped or massed by one, a few, or by many so rts ; or laid out in avenues, stars, platoons, and
other modern or ancient forms of planting, so as to become a scene of positive beauty. Every species of
tree has its particular form, bulk, mode of growth, flowering, &c., whieh constitute its cha rac ter; this
character varies with the age of the tree, and its situation relative to other trees, or to soil, climate, k c .
Now, as every tree may be grouped, or combined with those of its own species, or with any or all of the
others, in an endless variety of ways, the beauty th a t may thus be created by trees alone can only be
limited by tlie extent of suriace on which they are to be grown.
57H. The value of landed property containing plantations is enhanced prospcctively by the various properties
of trees. “ It is very generally known,” Sang observes, “ that such estates as have a quantity of well-
arranged, healthy timber upon them, when brought to sale, bring an extra price, according to the quality
and value of the wood, not only at the time of sale, but, counting forward on its value, to the period ofits
perfection. Thus, supposing the half-grown timber on an estate to be valued at ten thousand pounds at
the time of the sale, instances are to be found where thirty thousand pounds have been given, over and
above the valuation of the lands. The purchasers of such estates wisely foresee the increase of value
which will arise from healthy timber growing where it may not only be cherished till of full maturity,
blit where, probably, it can then be turned to the best advantage by reason of its local situation. But,
borides the real value of grown timber, there is most generally an ideal value attached to it, namely, that
of its ornamental appearance.” (Plant. Kal., p. 124.) A landed proprietor, who is a parent, looks on a
thriving plantation as capital laid out a t compound interest, and on the most undoubted security, for the
benefit of his offspring; and he values it in this respect the more, because no man c.an determine the ratio
in which, from the progress of the trees, and the future prosperity of the country, it may increase in value.
It does not happen to many to plant trees, and cut them down a t a m ature a g e ; but this only renders
planting a more Interesting performance to the man who is in secure enjoyment of an e s ta te ; for in his
full-grown trees he finds a link which connects him with his ancestors, and in his young plantations another
which carries him down with his posterity to tho next age.
S e c t . III. Profits o f Planting.
5742. From the seemingly distant advantages of planting has arisen the practice, by-
authors, of presenting statements of the profits, pleasures, and honours attending it, with
a view to excite the selfish or patriotic feelings of thcir readers.
5743. Tke profits c f planting.saysYLar&haW, “ are great, when properly executed, and this idea adds
solidity to the enjoyment. Pleasure alone may satiate ; but profit and pleasure united seldom fail of
producing a lasting gratification.” Every one who has th e least taste for country matters must be alive
tn the agreeable and satisfactory feelings with which plantations are formed ; and certainly there is something
disinterested and respectable in incurring a present expense for what in most cases is to benefit a
future generation; but as to the extraordinary profits, either of a near or far distant period, they are by
no means to be depended on. With respect to the absolute profit to be derived from trees or plantations,
considered independently, it is easy, by a calculation founded on seemingly very moderate data, to make
the clear gain attending the raising of any crop appear considerable; and, accordingly, almost every speculative
cultivator, whether of corn or trees, calculates on m aking a fortune in a very few years, as soon as
he can get possession of a farm or a trac t of waste. The tru th is, however, that, though accidental
circum.stanccs may render it more profitable to cultivate one kind of crop, either of trees or corn, a t one
time and place ra the r than another; yet, on the whole, the profits of capital employed in any way in
agriculture or planting must, on the general average, be ne.arly the same. 1 he certain lapse of time which
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